Hall burnt to the ground, unit blaze doused
UPDATED: A woman has been charged with arson after a unit fire left a dog dead. It was one of multiple fires in a busy 24 hours for firefighters at both ends of the state. See the damage >>
Tasmania
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A GLENORCHY woman has been charged with setting fire to her unit following a hectic 24 hours for the Tasmania Fire Service.
Fire crews and police were called to a fire at unit 4/3 Dew Drop Court, Glenorchy, about 11.30pm on Thursday.
Upon arrival, they found the unit fully engulfed in flames.
All residents were safe and accounted for, but an examination of the scene found a dog inside that did not survive.
Following an investigation, police arrested and later charged the 33-year-old female occupant of the unit with one count of arson.
Anyone who noticed unusual behaviour in the area preceding the fire is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
Also on Thursday, police attended an incident on Main Road, Montrose, where a wheat bag caught fire in a microwave.
Station officer and regional fire investigator Adam Doran said the Hobart Brigade attended the house about 6.30pm and found the kitchen filled with smoke.
“On this occasion, fortunately the damage from the fire was limited to the microwave,” he said.
“However, there have been occasions in Tasmania where wheat bags have caused house fires, including one that resulted in the tragic death of an elderly woman last year.”
He said wheat bags should be used only according to the instructions, including disposing of them when they get old and dried out, and not overheating them in the microwave or using them to warm bedding.
On Friday morning, the TFS was called to fires at Acton Park and Penna.
A derelict hall at Penna was destroyed by fire early in the morning, with the cause of the blaze still under investigation.
Crews from Seven Mile Beach, Lauderdale, Cambridge and Clarence attended a chimney fire on Acton Road about 8am.
Officer Doran said the fire was caused by the incorrect installation of a heater and a significant build up of residue that caught alight.
“Fortunately the occupants were up at the time about to go to work and heard the fire inside the wall cavity, so if that’d happened overnight potentially they were at risk of not waking up if that fire went through the rest of their roof.
“Across the state there have been several incidents in the last fortnight that could easily have resulted in loss of life and property from poorly maintained wood heaters.
"Fire services recommend that chimneys and flues are cleaned by a professional at least once a year to remove the residue left by smoke.”
A house fire at Yambacoona on King Island was also investigated on Friday, but the cause was unable to be determined due to the extent of damage, which was estimated to be between $350,000 and $400,000.
For more information on staying safe in winter, visit fire.tas.gov.au
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